Neck gaiter

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing to be worn by a user. The article includes a main body with an interior portion and an exterior portion that face in opposite directions. The main body includes a top perimeter that defines a top port and a bottom perimeter that defines a bottom port. The top port and the bottom port are disposed at opposite vertical portions of the main body so as to be in fluid communication with one another to allow passage of a head of the user therethrough. The main body defines a vertical axis that extends through the top port and the bottom port. The article also includes a shield disposed on at least a portion of the top perimeter of the top port to prevent air expelled from the user from escaping through the top port adjacent the shield.

BACKGROUND

Wearable articles of clothing such as neck gaiters are useful means forpersonal protection from the cold, however, conventional neck gaiterstend to redirect a user's breath upwards with respect to the user'sface, toward the user's eyes. In the event the user is wearing glassesor operating a camera, the redirected breath often condenses on a lensof the glasses or a viewfinder and display screen of the camera, causingthe same to fog and become inoperable or otherwise more difficult touse. Because conventional neck gaiters are generally characterized aselastic sleeves of fabric configured for being stretched over a user'sface, conventional neck gaiters lack sufficient means for protecting auser's glasses or camera from condensation of redirected breath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect, an article of clothing can be worn by a user.The article includes a main body with an interior portion and anexterior portion that face in opposite directions. The main bodyincludes a top perimeter that defines a top port and a bottom perimeterthat defines a bottom port. The top port and the bottom port aredisposed at opposite vertical portions of the main body so as to be influid communication with one another to allow passage of a head of theuser therethrough. The main body defines a vertical axis that extendsthrough the top port and the bottom port. The article also includes ashield disposed on at least a portion of the top perimeter of the topport to prevent air expelled from the user from escaping through the topport adjacent the shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the disclosure areset forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, likeparts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the samenumerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn toscale and certain figures can be shown in exaggerated or generalizedform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself,however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects andadvances thereof, will be best understood by reference to the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary wearable article ofclothing worn by a user with glasses.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the wearable article of clothingalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the wearable article of clothingwith any slack removed from the article.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the wearable article of clothing.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the wearable article of clothing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are merely illustrative and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structures disclosed without departing fromthe present disclosure. Referring now to the drawings, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is aperspective front view of a wearable article of clothing 10 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

With reference to the figures, an article of clothing (hereinafterarticle) 10 for a user 12 is shown. The user 12 can have a neck 14 witha head 16 upwardly extending therefrom with a face 18, a first ear 22and a second ear 24 disposed on opposite lateral ends of the head 16with a nose 26 disposed therebetween. As illustrated, the user 12 iswearing a pair of glasses 28.

For ease of explanation, an X, Y, Z axis has been superimposed over thearticle 10 and the user 12 in many of the figures. Following traditionalconvention, the X axis follows a front-back or longitudinal orientation(i.e., between the chin and the nape of the neck 14) and the Y axisfollows an up-down or vertical orientation (i.e., between the neck 14and the top of the head 16), as shown in FIG. 1. Further, the Z axisfollows a left-right or lateral/horizontal orientation (i.e., betweenthe first ear 22 and the second ear 24). The Z-axis is shown, forexample, in FIG. 4. As will be appreciated, the X, Y, Z axis does notlimit the scope of the disclosure, but is rather an aid in explanation.

The article 10 of clothing includes a main body 32 and a shield 34. Theshield 34 can include a deformable element 36 and a guard 38. Asillustrated, the deformable element 36 and the guard 38 are separatecomponents, but it is envisioned that these components could beintegral. The deformable element 36 is configured to be repeatably andplastically formed to match a contour of the face 18 of the user 12 soas to contact the face 18 of the user 12, thereby preventing air fromtraveling between the shield 34 and the face 18 of the user 12.

As will be appreciated, such a layout helps to prevent fogging ofglasses 28 of the user 12 and/or nearby sight objects through which theuser 12 will look. These sight objects could include, withoutlimitation, a camera, binoculars, a monocular, a telescope, and aspotting scope (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, the article 10 is configured for being worn over theneck 14 and face 18 of the user 12, with the shield 34 disposedlaterally over the face 18 from the first ear 22 of the user 10 to thesecond ear 24 of the user 10 and vertically positioned between the nose26 and eyes 30 of the user 10. Thus, the deformable element 36 isconfigured for being manipulated into a shape corresponding withcontours of the face 18 of the user 10, including the nose 26 andcheekbones, and maintaining the shape to prop the guard 38 continuouslyalong the face 18 of the user 12.

Further, the guard 38 can surround the deformable element 36 so as toembed the deformable element 36 within the guard 38. Stated another way,a length of the deformable element 36 along the Z axis can be less thana length of the guard 38 along the Z axis. As illustrated, thedeformable element 36 defines a length that is almost as long as alength of the guard 38. However, other lengths of the deformable element36 are contemplated. The deformable element 36 can be made of a varietyof materials without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Forexample, the deformable element 36 can be made of a ductile metal.Further, the deformable element 36 can be of a variety of shapes whilestill achieving the noted purpose. For example, the deformable element36 could have a primarily round or rectangular cross-section (X-Y axiscut).

By embedding the deformable element 36 within the guard 38, comfort forthe user 12 is improved when the article 10 is worn, as the user 12 isnot directly exposed to the deformable element 36. Furthermore, thedeformable element 36 is configured to provide sufficient rigidity toretain a shape of the shield 34 when a weight of the main body 32 andthe guard 38 is applied thereon.

However, the remaining elements of the article 10 do not have this levelof rigidity and will not retain a shape based upon input by the user 12.This rigidity of the deformable element 36 improves the experience ofthe user 12 as the article 10 does not require resizing when the user 12is wearing the article 10. Further, the lack of rigidity of theremaining elements of the article 10 also contribute to the comfort ofthe article 10 for the user 12.

As such, the article 10 is configured to be worn over the neck 14 andthe face 18 of the user 12 such that the shield 34 is laterally disposedover the face 18 of the user 12 from the first ear 22 of the user 12 tothe second ear 24 of the user 12. Additionally, the shield 34 isconfigured to be manipulated into a shape corresponding to contours ofthe face 18 of the user 12 and maintaining said shape without furtheradjustment.

The main body 32 can be made of a first material and the shield 34 canbe made of a second material. The first material and the second materialcan be different compositions from one another. For example, the firstmaterial can be a smooth material and the second material can be amaterial with sufficient nap to improve fit and sealing of the article10 against the face 18 of the user 12.

Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, the fabric forming themain body 32 could be fleece, however a variety of fabrics andalternative materials may be employed in the main body 32. Further, thefirst material can be thinner than the second material. The main body 32can made from a single piece of cloth and stitched or otherwiseconnected to form a tube or sleeve-like construction.

The main body 32 includes an interior portion 42 and an exterior portion44 that face 18 in opposite directions. Stated another way, the interiorportion 42 of the main body 32 faces toward the Y axis, whereas theexterior portion 44 faces away from the Y axis.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the main body 32 also includes a topperimeter 46 that defines a top port 48 and a bottom perimeter 52 thatdefines a bottom port 54. The Y axis (i.e., vertical axis) extendsthrough the top port 48 and the bottom port 54. As illustrated, the topport 48 and the bottom port 54 are disposed at opposite verticalportions of the main body 32 so as to be in fluid communication with oneanother to allow passage of the head 16 of the user 12 therethrough.

The top port 48 and the bottom port 54 are the exclusive means of entryand exit into and out of the main body 32 and the article 10 by the user12, thereby improving the proper movement of exhaled air by the user 12.As is considered apparent in view of the drawings, the top of the head16 of the user 12 can completely pass through the top port 48 and thebottom port 54, whereas lower parts of the head 16 (e.g., below theeyes) can be received within the article 10 so as to be between the topport 48 and the bottom port 54.

The article 10 can define a tube shape. With reference to FIG. 3, aninner diameter 56 of the article 10 including the top perimeter 46 isless than an inner diameter 58 of the article 10 including the bottomperimeter 52. This difference in inner diameters is due to the placementof the shield 34. Furthermore, the interior portion 42 of the main body32 adjacent the top port 48 defines a main body inner diameter 62

The article 10 defines a top wall thickness 64 adjacent the top port 48.Additionally, the main body 32 defines a bottom wall thickness 66adjacent the bottom port 54. Although the top wall thickness of thearticle 10 can vary around the top perimeter 46 of the main body 32, thebottom wall thickness of the main body 32 can be uniform around thebottom perimeter 52.

Further, the main body 32 and the shield 34 cooperate at the top port 48to define the top wall maximum thickness 68 of the article 10. The mainbody 32 solely defines the top wall minimum thickness 72 at the top port48. The top wall maximum thickness 68 of the article 10 may be greaterthan the bottom wall thickness 66 of the main body 32 to ensure a properseal between the article 10 and the face 18 of the user 12, therebypreventing exhaled air from escaping from the article 10 through the topport 48.

Finally, the top wall thickness 64 of the article 10 includes the topwall maximum thickness 68 at the shield 34 and a top wall minimumthickness 70 at all locations along the top perimeter 46 not in contactwith the shield 34. The bottom wall thickness 66 of the main body 32 canbe equal to the top wall minimum thickness 70 of the article 10 toimprove comfort for the user 12.

The shield 34 can be disposed on at least a portion of the top perimeter46 of the top port 48 to prevent air expelled from the user 12 fromescaping through the top port 48 adjacent the shield 34. The shield 34includes a proximal vertical portion 74 that is attached to the mainbody 32 and a distal vertical portion 76 that is vertically opposite theproximal vertical portion 74. The distal vertical portion 76 does notdirectly contact the main body 32.

The main body 32 defines a main body length that extends along thevertical axis (i.e., Y axis) between the top perimeter 46 of the topport 48 and the bottom perimeter 52 of the bottom port 54. Asillustrated, a distance along the vertical axis between the bottomperimeter 52 of the bottom port 54 and the distal vertical portion 76 ofthe shield 34 is greater than the main body length. Further, a distancealong the vertical axis between the bottom perimeter 52 of the bottomport 54 and the proximal vertical portion 74 of the shield 34 is lessthan the main body length. The aforementioned arrangements provide anoffset portion to provide a better seal between the article 10 and theuser 12 and preventing exhaled air from escaping through the top port 48of the article 10.

The shield 34 can include a first end 78 and a second end 82 that arespaced from one another by the main body 32. The first end 78 and thesecond end 82 comprise the proximal vertical portion 74 of the shield34. The shield 34 can extend along greater than 30% of the top perimeter46 of the top port 48 and less than 75% of the top perimeter 46 of thetop port 48. Further, the shield 34 can extend along approximately 50%of the top perimeter 46 of the top port 48. As illustrated, the shield34 can be disposed on at least a part of the interior portion 42 of themain body 32 and at least a part of the exterior portion 44 of the mainbody 32. This layout can improve wearability and comfort for the user12.

The shield 34 can include a fold 84 that defines a pocket 86 for receiptof the main body 32 therein. Further, the pocket 86 can receive at leasta portion of the top perimeter 46 of the main body 32. This overlappingsetup further improves the ability of the article 10 to prevent exhaledair from the user 12 from existing the article 10 through the top port48. As will be appreciated, by preventing the air from leaving throughthe top port 48, the likelihood of the glasses 28 or other sight devicefrom becoming fogged due to condensation from the breathe from the user12.

By stretching to fit over the face 18 of the user 12, the main body 32at the top port 48 holds the shield 34 in place against the face 18 ofthe user 12 with an elastic force. Notably, sufficient rigidity of thedeformable element 36 enables the main body 32 to prop the guard 38against each contour across the face 18 of the user 12, includingcontours of the nose 26 and cheekbones.

This is accomplished while also providing sufficient flexibility of thedeformable element 36 to enable manipulation of the deformable element36 by the user into a customizable shape, such that the same article 10can accommodate a variety of users. With this construction, as a user 12wearing the article 10 exhales into the article 10, contact maintainedbetween the guard 38 and the face 18 of the user 12 prevents the user'sbreath from escaping the article 10 from between the face 18 of the user12 and the shield 34.

If a user 12 is wearing glasses 28 or performing photography with acamera while wearing the article 10, preventing the breath of the user12 from escaping the article 10 from between the face 18 of the user 12at the top port 48 adjacent the shield 34 helps prevent the breath ofthe user 12 from condensing on the glasses 28 of the user 12, orportions of the camera including a viewfinder and a display screen.

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the above-disclosedand other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof,may be desirably combined into many other different systems orapplications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipatedalternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may besubsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended tobe encompassed by the following claims.

1. An article of clothing to be worn by a user, the article of clothingcomprising: a main body including an interior portion and an exteriorportion that face in opposite directions, the main body including a topperimeter that defines a top port and a bottom perimeter that defines abottom port, the top port and the bottom port being disposed at oppositevertical portions of the main body so as to be in fluid communicationwith one another to allow passage of a head of the user therethrough,and wherein the main body defines a vertical axis that extends throughthe top port and the bottom port; and a shield disposed on at least aportion of the top perimeter of the top port to prevent air expelledfrom the user from escaping through the top port adjacent the shield. 2.The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the top port and the bottomport are an exclusive means of entry and exit into and out of the mainbody by the user.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein theshield extends along approximately 50% of the top perimeter of the topport.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the shield extendsalong greater than 30% of the top perimeter of the top port and lessthan 75% of the top perimeter of the top port.
 5. The article ofclothing of claim 1, wherein the shield is disposed on at least a partof the interior portion of the main body and at least a part of theexterior portion of the main body.
 6. The article of clothing of claim1, wherein the shield includes a proximal vertical portion that isattached to the main body and a distal vertical portion that isvertically opposite the proximal vertical portion, wherein the main bodydefines a main body length that extends along the vertical axis betweenthe top perimeter of the top port and the bottom perimeter of the bottomport, and wherein a distance along the vertical axis between the bottomperimeter of the bottom port and the proximal vertical portion of theshield is less than the main body length.
 7. The article of clothing ofclaim 6, wherein the shield includes a first end and a second end thatare spaced from one another by the main body.
 8. The article of clothingof claim 7, wherein the shield includes a fold that defines a pocket forreceipt of the main body therein, and wherein the pocket receives atleast a portion of the top perimeter of the main body.
 9. The article ofclothing of claim 7, wherein the first end and the second end of theshield comprise the proximal vertical portion.
 10. The article ofclothing of claim 1, wherein the main body is made of a first materialand the shield is made of a second material, and wherein the firstmaterial and the second material are of different compositions from oneanother, and wherein the first material is thinner than the secondmaterial.
 11. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the interiorportion of the main body adjacent the top port defines a main body innerdiameter and the main body cooperates with the shield to define anarticle inner diameter, and wherein the main body inner diameter isgreater than the article inner diameter.
 12. The article of clothing ofclaim 1, wherein the shield includes a deformable element that isconfigured to be repeatably and plastically formed to match a contour ofa face of the user so as to contact the face of the user therebypreventing air from traveling between the shield and the face of theuser.
 13. The article of clothing of claim 12, wherein the shieldincludes a guard that surrounds the deformable element so as to embedthe deformable element within the guard.
 14. The article of clothing ofclaim 13, wherein the deformable element is configured to providesufficient rigidity to retain a shape of the shield when a weight of themain body and the guard is applied thereon.
 15. The article of clothingof claim 1, wherein the main body defines a tube shape in which an innerdiameter of the article including the top perimeter and the shield isless than an inner diameter of the article including the bottomperimeter.
 16. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the articledefines a top wall thickness immediately adjacent the top port and themain body defines a bottom wall thickness adjacent the bottom port, andwherein the top wall thickness of the article varies around the topperimeter of the main body and the bottom wall thickness of the mainbody is uniform around the bottom perimeter.
 17. The article of clothingof claim 16, wherein the main body and the shield cooperate to define atop wall maximum thickness of the article and the main body defines atop wall minimum thickness at all locations along the top perimeter notshared with the shield.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 17, whereinthe top wall maximum thickness of the article is greater than the bottomwall thickness of the main body, and wherein the bottom wall thicknessof the main body is equal to the top wall minimum thickness of thearticle.
 19. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the article isconfigured to be worn over a neck and a face of the user such that theshield is laterally disposed over the face of the user from a first earof the user to a second ear of the user, and wherein the shield isconfigured to be manipulated into a shape corresponding to contours ofthe face of the user and maintaining said shape without furtheradjustment.
 20. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the shieldincludes a proximal vertical portion that is attached to the main bodyand a distal vertical portion that is vertically opposite the proximalvertical portion, wherein the main body defines a main body length thatextends along the vertical axis between the top perimeter of the topport and the bottom perimeter of the bottom port, and wherein a distancealong the vertical axis between the bottom perimeter of the bottom portand the distal vertical portion of the shield is greater than the mainbody length.